Developer TiMi Studio Group has teased the return of Delta Force, the classic voxel-based military first-person shooter that debuted on PC a quarter-century ago. The new game will be a cross-platform effort spanning PC, consoles, and mobile. More will be revealed at the proper unveiling next week at Gamescom Opening Night Live.
Large-scale multiplayer was a big part of the original game, and that appears to be the case in the new version, as you can see in the gameplay teaser trailer above. We asked the development team a few questions to learn what we could ahead of next week’s full reveal.
“Our team has always been interested in creating realistic military-themed shooter games,” said producer Shadow Guo. “As the producer, my first FPS game was Delta Force, and it left a lasting impression on me. Delta Force was celebrated for its realistic depiction of open-world combat, large-scale multiplayer PVP, and its portrayal of “Tip of the Spear” Special Operations Forces. Even today, these features continue to have immense appeal and there remains potential for more innovation. We hope to show the evolution of these features, while carrying on the legacy of the gameplay pillars. That’s why we decided to reboot the Delta Force franchise. We’re proud to carry on that tradition and create a large, dangerous, and unpredictable world, where you need to complete various missions, face challenges, and earn rewards.”
When describing the tone and feel of the new Delta Force, Guo told IGN, “Our objective is to uphold the authentic essence of the original Delta Force game while infusing a near-future flavor from both artistic and narrative perspectives. To achieve this, we developed the overarching storyline with realistic themes, employed real-life actors for character building, utilized photogrammetry for 3D world creation, captured tactical movements from military professionals, and sought guidance from former Special Forces personnel to ensure an authentic tone of resolute realism and professionalism within the military theme.
“In addition, our campaign mode is based on the movie “Black Hawk Down.” Players will be able to experience authentic and thrilling battles from the celebrated movie. Our team has extensively studied the movie and delved into the historical context respectfully. This dedicated research enabled us to recreate a truly authentic and immersive gaming experience that captures the essence of that monumental event.”
Guo also told us that the new Delta Force will continue the large-scale PvP multiplayer tradition of the original 1998 game. “Our game designers chose to build an immersive multiplayer battleground that could accommodate even larger-scale PVP than the previous 32-player limit. To create a grand atmosphere of combat on ground, sea, and air, we designed a variety of methods for engagement and maps that integrate diverse terrain features such as vertical height differences and caves, as well as different vehicle routes.
“We also created unique, technologically advanced vehicles that players can use in the game, including assault vehicles, helicopters, armored vehicles, attack boats, terrain vehicles, jeeps, pickups, fighter jets, and drones. These vehicles add to the gameplay experience of large-scale PVP.”
Stay tuned for more on the Delta Force revival next week.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive editor of previews and host of both IGN’s weekly Xbox show, Podcast Unlocked, as well as our monthly(-ish) interview show, IGN Unfiltered. He’s a North Jersey guy, so it’s “Taylor ham,” not “pork roll.” Debate it with him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan.